Archive for the ‘breed specific legislation’ Category

Not all pit bulls — or any dog, for that matter — are vicious, and some Ohio lawmakers seem to agree.

An Ohio law enacted this week prevents dogs from being branded as vicious solely because of their breed. Now, the only vicious dogs are those who’ve warranted the label. From a Los Angeles Times story:

Previously, state law defined a vicious dog as one that hurt or killed a person, killed a another canine or was simply a pit bull, according to the Associated Press. The change now requires proof that a pit bull is actually vicious.

We follow the gut-wrenching saga of breed-specific legislation here at Pawesome, as difficult as it can be at times to read and write. But here’s hoping more pit bulls will live instead of die over questionable crimes of identity.

Also in Ohio this week, the Cleveland City Council voted to limit the amount of time dogs can spend tied outside, according to a newsnet5.com report. The ordinance came as a result of excessive barking from dogs left alone, dogs found improperly tied up, and dogs left in harsh weather conditions. We spend a lot of time worrying about trapping dogs inside, but let’s not forget that they can be trapped (and harmed) outside, too.

Let’s all of us be extra-kind to doggies today.

Photo: maplegirlie on Flickr.

Maria wrote last week about the Maryland Court of Appeals’ disappointing decision to deem all pit bulls and pit bull mixes “vicious and inherently dangerous.” There has been so much coverage of this ruling and a lot of outcry.  I’ve seen rumors on facebook that some shelters have stopped accepting pit bulls during this time, and even worse, that some have put down their pit bull mixes. I hope those are just rumors.  Due to the ramifications of this legislation, there is a lot of support for pit bulls in Maryland. I live in Maryland and I’ve been contacted by a couple friends to sign a petition asking the Governor not to discriminate against pit bulls. The petition has received 9,000 signatures and counting. Yesterday there was a rally outside the Maryland State House — which just happens to be right outside my office window — standing up for many peoples’ beloved breed. It drew a large crowd even with rainy weather. News also came out that pit bulls may get a second chance during a special legislative session.

Read the rest of this entry »

Finally, some good news for pitbull (type) dogs and their owners!

Just a couple of months ago, United Airlines placed restrictions on the types of dogs they would transport as part of their PetSafe Program – and of course, pitbulls and other pitbull-types, were on the list. After United refused to fly her dog, Hawaii resident Jessie Huart started a Change.org petition to “end this discrimination and remove the breed restriction” from their policy.

Over 45,000 people signed. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever since I became a dog owner nearly two years ago, I’ve been more aware of breed-specific legislation – and the more I learn, the angrier I become. Last week the Maryland Court of Appeals decided Tracey v. Solesky,which will likely have huge ramifications for pit bull-type dogs and their owners. Here’s a summary from The Whole Dog Journal:

“On April 26, 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals delivered a finding that not only held a landlord liable for a 2007 incident in which his tenant’s dog, an American Pitbull Terrier, escaped from a pen and mauled a child, but also declared that ‘a pit bull or any dog with pit bull ancestry shall be deemed hence forth vicious and inherently dangerous as a matter of law.’” Read more about this case after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »